Mop washing apparatus



April 10, 1956 w. TROSTLER MOP WASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1954 IN VEN TOR W/LL/AM 205mm MOP WASHING APPARATUS William Trostler, Cleveland Heights, Ghio Application October 22, 1954, Serial No. 464,056

1 Claim. (Cl. 134-199) The present invention has for its primary object the provision of apparatus for washing and rinsing floor mops, and the like, in which the latter is introduced, washed and extracted without ever coming in contact with the hands of the person using the mop.

Another object is to provide apparatus having a plurality of centrally and downwardly directed spray heads which impinge a fan shaped flood of water upon the mop, rather than a thin needle-like spray.

Another object is to provide such apparatus in which only clean water comes into contact with the mop, the dirty water being constantly removed by drainage through the open bottom of the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide apparatus having an adjustable platform or holder for the mop which holds and positions it at the point of maximum washing efiiciency, whether the mop be large or small. 7

A further object is to provide a device of the type stated that may be used with any existing slop-sink or floor drain.

Other objects are to provide such a device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in structure and simple in operation, requiring no special care or skill in its use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for washing fioor mops that is the subject of this invention, with a portion broken away to show the position of a mop placed therein with reference to the washing elements;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same, with the mop removed;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the spray nozzles, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 33 of the Figure 4; and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the spray nozzles.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in the Figure 1 a conventional mop 12 positioned in the washing apparams that is the subject of this invention. The washer consists of a substantially cylindrical sheet metal shell having an open top and bottom. The shell 10 is slightly elliptical in shape so that its width will be such that it may be used in a standard slop sink if desired.

As seen in the Figure 1, the washer shell 10 is shown resting upon the grating of a floor drain 11. A U-shape unitary manifold pipe broadly indicated by reference numeral 17 is adjustably mounted diametrically of the long axis of the shell 10 by means of clamps 25 and 26. The manifold has two vertical arms 18 and 19 joined through a horizontal arm 20. The upper end of the arm 18 is closed by means of a cap 22. A coupling fitting 23 is mounted on the upper end of the arm 19 and is adapted to be connected to a water supply hose 24.

nited States Patent 2,741,254 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 The manifold is adjustably mounted within the shell 10 by means of two clamps 25 nd 26 'wit hin which the manifold arms 18 and '19 are slidably fitted. By loosening the clamps, the U-shaped manifold 17 may be moved vertically of the shell 10 to take the alternate position indicated by reference numerals 18a, 19a and 2061. The manifold adjustment is made in accordance with the size of the mop 12. For a long rnop, the manifold 17 is set at its lowest position with reference to the top end of the shell 10 as indicated by the dotted outline 20d. For a short mop, the manifold 17 is positioned toward the upper end of the shell 10.

A mop supporting table 13 is adjustably mounted near the top end of the shell 10. The table 13 has two de, pendent flange elements 29. These flan es are positioned between spaced vertically extending ribs 34 which keep the table from tilting when a mop is resting thereon. Each flange 29 has two vertically spaced and aligned holes 14. The width of the table is such that a mop may be seated thereon at the point it is attached to its handle 36, as seen in Figure 1. The table is mounted in place cross-wise of the shell 10 between the upper ends of the manifold 17 by means of a headed rod 15 which passes through the shell wall and the tab flange holes 14. After it is positioned as described, the rod 15 is anchored in place by means of a cotter pin 16. The table may be adjusted vertically of the shell 10 by passing the rod 15 through the appropriate hole 14 in the flanges 29. The table being positioned high in the shell for a long mop and low in the shell for a short mop.

Reference numeral 21 indicates spray heads or nozzles mounted on the vertical arms 18 and 19 of the manifold 17. There are three spaced nozzles mounted on each arm as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each nozzle has a head end 31 and a threaded end 32 which screws into threaded outlet holes in the manifold 17. Each nozzle has an internal tapered bore 27 whose large end is at the threaded end 32 of the nozzle with the small end positioned at the head end 31. A cross slot 28 cut through the nozzle head 31 intercepts the small end of the bore 27. The nozzle slot is below the center line of the nozzle and is set at an acute angle to' the long axis of the tapered bore 27. A preferred angle is 45. The nozzles 21 are positioned in their mounting holes on the manifold arms 18 and 19 so that the slots 28 face downward toward the center of the shell and toward one another.

In operating the device, the washer shell 10 is positioned over a floor drain or set in a slop sink. A hose 24 connected to a source of water under pressure is attached to the manifold through the coupling 23. The manifold and mop table are then adjusted vertically of the shell 10 depending upon the length of the mop 12 to be washed. The mop 12 is rested on the table 13 with its operating end of rags or twine hanging from the table between the spray nozzles 21, as illustrated in Figure 1. In the case of a long mop, the manifold 17 is lowered so that the nozzles assume the alternate position indicated by reference numerals 21a. After the mop is so positioned, the water is admitted into the manifold 17. Due to the shape of the slots 28, the water leaving the nozzles 21 assumes the fan-shaped configuration indicated by reference numeral 33.

The constricting effect of the tapered bore 27 increases the pressure of the water as it leaves the nozzle, so that a forceful sheet of water is directed against the mop. Inasmuch as the slots 28 are directed in a downward direction, the fan of water strikes the mop at a downward angle. As a result of the angular set of the sheet of water, dirt in the mop is picked up by the water and carried downward of the mop and into the drain 11. The dirt is not driven into the mop due to the novel combination of a wide sheet of water applied in a downward direction. Furthermore, the mop never comes into con- With this device floor mopping operations are greatly speeded up because the mop is always clean and not partially contaminated with dirt, as is the case where a static volume of rinse water is used. Another advantage obtained by the use of this apparatus is that for a given degree of cleanliness less water is actually used than by old methods because it is well known that a great number of rinses in a small quantity of water will yield better dirt removal than if a single large volume rinse is used.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to he considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for washing floor mops, comprising in combination, a substantially cylindrical sheet metal shell open at the top and bottom, a unitary U-shaped water manifold mounted within the shell, diametrically thereof, having coupling means adapted to be connected to a source of Water under pressure, means for 'adjustably positioning said manifold vertically of said shell relative to the top and bottom ends thereof, a mop supporting table mounted within the shell between the vertical legs of the manifold, including means for adjustably positioning said table vertically of the shell relative to the horizontal bottom portion of the U-shaped manifold, and a plurality of spray nozzles mounted in spaced relationship upon the vertical legs of the manifold with their orifices directed toward the center of the shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,509 Silverglade Jan. 5, 1909 1,829,831 Hiskey Nov. 3, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS r 74,489 Switzerland Mar. 1, 191 

